“Submission Diplomacy” vs “Restoration of Korea-Japan Relations”… Divergent Reactions from Civil Society on Japanese Prime Minister Kishida’s Visit to Korea

On the afternoon of the 7th, in front of the Yongsan Presidential Office where the summit between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, visiting Korea, and President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking place, a rally opposing Prime Minister Kishida's visit to Korea is being held, hosted by the Korea-Japan Historical Justice and Peace Action.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The civil society's reactions to the Korea-Japan summit held on the 7th were sharply divided. Progressive groups condemned it as "submissive diplomacy," while conservative groups evaluated it as a "restoration of Korea-Japan relations."

The Korea-Japan Historical Justice and Peace Action, consisting of organizations such as the Justice and Memory Foundation and the Research Institute of National Issues, held a press conference at 2 p.m. in front of the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, stating, "We condemn the Korea-Japan summit." They demanded that the Japanese government apologize and compensate for the forced mobilization by wartime companies. They also urged the Korean government to warn Japan, which claims sovereignty over Dokdo, and to demand the withdrawal of the Fukushima nuclear wastewater discharge plan.

'People Opening Peace and Unification' defined the Korea-Japan summit at a noon press conference as "a submissive diplomatic occasion that repeatedly grants impunity to the Kishida administration, which consistently distorts history and denies responsibility." They argued, "The restoration of Korea-Japan shuttle diplomacy is a U.S. strategy to hastily resolve historical issues, build a Korea-Japan alliance, and mobilize Korea in confrontation with China."

The university student group '2015 Korea-Japan Agreement Cancellation Joint Student Action' pointed out at an 11 a.m. press conference that "the signatory of the 2015 'comfort women' agreement was then Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, now Prime Minister," and "he never acknowledged the wrongdoing of war crimes."

The conservative civic group Shin Jayu Yeondae held a counter rally near the Presidential Office, where anti-summit press conferences were continuously held, with slogans such as "Strengthening the Korea-U.S.-Japan military alliance" and "Welcoming Prime Minister Kishida's visit," but no physical clashes occurred.

The Citizens' Action for the Abolition of the Comfort Women Law held a "Welcome Rally for Prime Minister Kishida" at 3 p.m. at the Gwanghwamun Citizen Open Square. About 40 participants marched approximately 1 km to the Korea Press Center, shouting slogans such as "Restoration of Korea-Japan relations." One citizen, opposing the slogans, rushed into the marching line but was restrained by the police.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.